Because the number of deaths continued to climb, a second executive order was signed in July 2017, calling for community and school-based prevention education, and a directive to explore “a comprehensive harm reduction strategy for intravenous drug users to decrease risk of overdose, infection, and assault.”

Harm reduction strategies include distribution of clean needles, outreach, peer support, naloxone training, substitution therapy, and supervised injection facilities. These approaches mitigate the adverse effects of high-risk behaviors associated with drug use by reducing stigma, and legal and social barriers to care.

Supervised injection facilities (SIFs) are an effective public health strategy because their impact is multi-faceted and based in harm reduction. SIFs reduce death from overdose, increase access to services for healthcare and recovery, and improve community safety.

With good results in Canada and campaigns for SIFs in New York and other US locations, Rhode Island is not alone in this crisis. Supervised injection facilities can help stem the exponential increase in deaths and unbearable toll this overdose crisis is taking on individuals, families, and the state. It is crucial that the Overdose Task Force and Governor Raimondo support local implementation of this evidence-based life-saving strategy.